We've been quite sad here for the past days since the death of Dr. Erwin A. Jaffe, professor, mentor, friend, protector, and door-opener for my husband. Jeff has written a lovely tribute at the website he set up for Erwin some months ago. Erwin wanted to put all of his important thinking in one place on the web, the beginning of which is what you'll find by clicking.
Over the past year, we were able to spend time with Erwin and his wife, Marianne, his other half for 51 years, as he was treated every six weeks at Mass General Hospital here in Boston. We cherish those times, particularly the very first one, last December, when Erwin called to let us know they were here - and a whole slew of his students from many years past crammed into their hotel room. An impromptu party with all of us sitting on the beds, Erwin regaling us with stories, people catching up with one another. These moments flash briefly in our lives, unplanned and full of memories, love, and life. Please look at what Jeff has written. And if you teach, be like Erwin and never stop being part of your students' lives. I love the closing to the piece below, asking people to make donations in his name to "Doctors Without Borders because Erwin Jaffe believed in people without borders."
